music, comedy, and a lot of lovin’

We had the privilege of being a part of the fabulous Wendy Townley’s 2 day wedding blast! She made us instantly feel like friends and guests instead of the help. If you want great photos. . .. that is the perfect start! We were ready to adopt her mother and become her best friend with in 2 minutes of walking in the door. She had a unique style, they were laid back, and it all reflected who they are as a couple. It is going to go down as one of our favorite weddings! Brides- take her advice and make your wedding about you.

By Wendy Townley

What can a girl say about her wedding day that hasn’t been said (or written) by other brides?

Now a few weeks out from my September 21 wedding, I feel I can sincerely echo the advice I heard countless times during the past few months.

Savor every single second of this most memorable day.

Although it was challenging at times, I tried my best to step back, pause, and truly reflect (both alone and with my new husband, Matt Tompkins) at the wonder happening around us. The planning and coordinating, the hiccups and speed bumps, the invoices and phone calls didn’t much matter anymore. What mattered was the two of us, this day designed by us, and the gift of family and friends who joined us.

To make our wedding weekend distinctly ours, we chose a road not often taken. Instead of one big day, we celebrated over two days. We picked two separate venues and mailed two separate invitations.

And, perhaps best of all, this bride wore her wedding dress not once – but twice!

Matt and I exchanged our vows on a warm and sunny Friday afternoon during a small outdoor ceremony at Omaha’s Memorial Park Rose Garden. We kept our Friday guest list to just one-hundred, only inviting immediate and extended family, and a small group of very close friends. Matt’s dad is a Methodist pastor, so we were delighted to have him officially make us husband and wife.

Matt and I each only have one sibling, which made our wedding party picks even easier: my sister, Katie, would be maid of honor; Matt’s brother, Ben, would serve as best man.

With handwritten vows and a kiss to make it official, we then headed downtown with our guests to the Omaha Press Club for appetizers, dinner, drinks, cake, and a relaxed evening to celebrate.

The next evening – Saturday, September 22 – Matt and I hosted a larger reception at the Whiskey Roadhouse, a live music venue inside the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa (just a ten-minute drive from downtown Omaha across the Missouri River).

The evening was kept simple by design: the dress was casual, the music was live, and the drinks were flowing well past midnight. All of our Friday guests were also invited to the Saturday night party, as well as an additional three-hundred friends.

Katie and Ben gave hilarious and heartwarming speeches from stage, and Matt surprised me with a Frank Sinatra serenade and a handful of wedding-related jokes.

Although my feet looked fierce and fabulous in my kate spade heels, by night’s end I was ready for our whirlwind wedding weekend to come to a close.

The next morning we opened our gifts while enjoying a lovely brunch with our immediate family. It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend that Matt and I will remember forever.